[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 183 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55220-55221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7936]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,

[[Page 55221]]

collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of data collection for the 
ETA Form 9117 (formerly ETA-9023), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) 
Reserve Funding Request Form (1205-0275, expires 12/31/2006). A copy of 
the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before November 20, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Erica R. Cantor, Administrator, Office of National Response, 
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room 
C-5311, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210. Phone (202) 
693-2757 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 693-3584, or e-
mail <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6f0c0e011b001d410a1d060c0e2f0b000341080019"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80e3e1eef4eff2aee5f2e9e3e1c0e4efecaee7eff6">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and 
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) programs provide 
assistance to workers that have been adversely affected by foreign 
trade. Under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended by the Trade Reform Act 
of 2002, the statutory training cap is $220 million each year, with 
additional funding available for job search and relocation allowances 
and State administration. To be eligible for TAA or ATAA benefits, a 
group of workers, a company official, a union or other duly authorized 
representative, or a One Stop Operator or partner must file a petition 
with the Department of Labor. If the Department determines that the 
workers meet the statutory criteria, it issues a certification of 
eligibility for the workers in the group to apply for benefits and 
services through partnerships between the State Workforce Agencies 
(SWAs) and the One Stop Career Center system. On average, approximately 
120,000 workers are potentially eligible to apply for TAA benefits and 
services each year. Of those potentially eligible, roughly 40,000 
individuals begin receiving TAA-funded benefits and services each year. 
In addition, 40,000 individuals who began receiving services in 
previous years continue to receive them.
    II. Review Focus: The Department of Labor is particularly 
interested in comments which:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    III. Current Actions: This is a notice to extend the collection 
period that is currently approved by OMB (1205-0275 expires December 
31, 2006).
    The ETA-9117(formerly ETA-9023) has been successfully utilized by 
the ETA and SWAs since its implementation in July 2004. The Department 
distributes $165 million of the $220 million appropriation available 
for TAA training at the beginning of each fiscal year as formula base 
allocations. The remaining training funds or $55 million is held in 
reserve by the Department to support States that experience large 
unanticipated layoffs that cannot be covered by their formula base 
allocation. The reserve funds are requested using the ETA-9117 
(formerly ETA-9023) which provides essential information needed to 
determine the reasonableness of requests for TAA reserve funding such 
as the number of individuals currently enrolled in training that 
require additional funding through the current fiscal year; the number 
of new enrollees that require funding through the current fiscal year; 
the number of individuals requesting job search and relocation 
allowances; accrual expenditures for the most recent available funds; 
active certifications; and the circumstances necessitating the request 
for additional funding.
    Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Reserve Funding Request 
Form. OMB Number: 1205-0275.
    Agency Number: ETA-9117 (formerly ETA-9023).
    Affected Public: State, local or tribal Government.
    Total Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 75.

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                                                                                                                          Average time
                Cite/reference                       Total                     Frequency               Total responses    per response   Total requested
                                                  respondents                                                               (hours)           burden
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TAA Reserve Request Form......................              25   On occasion.........................              25                3               75
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    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 11, 2006.
Erica R. Cantor,
Administrator, Office of National Response.
[FR Doc. 06-7936 Filed 9-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P


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